There are likely many ways to live your life that will get you to heaven–there is no single rule of thumb. However, I do know one thing, and that is that I recently met a person who is living his current existence in a manner that will very likely get him to the Promised Land.

I was driving along the other morning and pulled up behind a car in the left turn lane, with the light turned red. As I stopped, I noticed there were Kiwanis volunteers walking up and down the lines of cars, asking for donations. In situations like this I usually give them a couple of bucks, figuring it’s the least I can do.

Then I more clearly noticed the particular volunteer who approached my car. He was stooped over and appeared to be in his eighties. He was walking very slowly and gingerly, using a cane. I thought to myself, “Wow, this guy is out here in the middle of this busy street at 9AM collecting donations? I will likely be lying in bed until noon when I am his age!”

When he eventually ambled up to my driver’s side window, I put three or four dollars in his jar. He first gave me one bag of peanuts, and then said something about me having donated more than one dollar, and fumbled around for a bit until I possessed two bags of peanuts. This seemed like a thoughtful gesture, especially for someone struggling as much as he obviously was.

I couldn’t help but think to myself what a kind and generous man he must be, to get up first thing in the morning, at his advanced age and with his physical limitations, and volunteer his time. And then, as if meant to reinforce to me the extent of his sacrifice, an ambulance raced up from behind my car, swerved around my driver’s side, just narrowly missing the poor old gentleman! As it turns out, he was not only sacrificing his time and limited energy, he was risking life and limb!

So what did I ultimately conclude about this unusual encounter?

Humble service. That will be this man’s way of getting into heaven. Good for him, right?

TIM MCINTYRE retired in 2004 from his position as president of Applied Systems after facilitating a successful sale of the company. At only forty-six years old, he made the unusual decision to fully retire to pursue other interests and simply enjoy free time. As a hard-driving Type A personality, this turned out to be a significant challenge for the Notre Dame and University of Chicago-educated MBA, CPA, and Certified Cash Manager.

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